Plant and event news

Fincantieri Marinette Marine awarded $5.5B Navy contract

Fincantieri Marinette Marine was awarded a contract to build the U.S. Navy’s new frigate. If all options are exercised on the contract, Marinette Marine will deliver the first 10 FFG (X) ships for a total of more than $5.5 billion, according to the U.S. Navy.

Each ship is expected to come with a price tag between $800 million and $950 million. The company has been competing for the contract for two years.

The Navy plans to build 20 ships as part of the future frigate program. Fincantieri will build an adapted variant of the Italian FREMM (European multipurpose frigate) in Wisconsin at its Marinette shipyard.

Marinette Marine was originally one of five companies vying for the contract. In addition to ensuring work at the shipyard for the duration of the contract, the project is projected to create more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs to benefit the local economy.

Oshkosh Corp. income falls, launches cost-savings plan

Oshkosh Corp. is implementing several cost-cutting measures, including furloughs and decreased salaries, the manufacturer announced with its fiscal 2020 second quarter results.
Oshkosh Corp.’s fiscal income for the quarter was $68.6 million, compared to $128.5 million during the same quarter in fiscal 2019. Before including several special charges during the quarter, the adjusted net income was $86.5 million.

Oshkosh Corp. President and CEO Wilson Jones attributed the decrease in income to the COVID-19 pandemic, outlining a plan to help the manufacturer reduce costs during the second half of its fiscal year. The plan targets $80 million to $100 million in savings for the second half of fiscal 2020. It includes lower salaries, especially for executives and board members, as well as furloughs and temporary plant shutdowns.

Jones said the moves will help Oshkosh “emerge stronger” once the COVID-19 crisis ends. “Our balance sheet is strong and our liquidity of approximately $1.2 billion at March 31 positions us well to navigate through the global pandemic,” he said.

In the second quarter, the manufacturer saw its consolidated net sales drop 9.7 percent to $1.80 billion compared to the same fiscal quarter in 2019. Consolidated operating income in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 23.9 percent to $133.6 million, or 7.4 percent of sales, compared to $175.6 million, or 8.8 percent of sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

While Oshkosh Corp.’s defense and fire and emergency markets are doing well, Jones said the company is “facing uncertain demand in the access equipment and commercial segments as well as potential disruptions with supply chain continuity and team member availability in all of our segments.”

J&R Machine advances automation with two new CNC machines

J&R Machine has installed two DMG MORI NZX 2000 automated CNC systems at its Shawano headquarters. The new machines strengthen the company’s commitment to automation while increasing its production capacity for highly accurate and reliable machined parts.

Each high-precision, multi-axis turning machine features two spindles, three turrets, automated gantry loaders and touch screen CELOS controls. They are the only DMG MORI NZX configured with a gantry system in the Midwest and increase production efficiency up to 20 to 35 percent, supporting shorter lead times, depending on the part.

The new installation further advances J&R Machine’s strategic investments in manufacturing automation, focused on enhancing its customers’ experience of outsourcing complex parts by increasing uptime, enhancing the accuracy of machined parts and expanding the size of parts J&R Machine can produce.

NWTC becomes first tech college in Wisconsin to earn patent

The U.S. Patent and Trademark office awarded Northeast Wisconsin Technical College a patent for its Mobile Modular Training Systems — the first one issued to a technical college in Wisconsin.

The Mobile Modular Training System includes training equipment and curriculum to train advanced manufacturing skills and is designed to better prepare students entering the workforce. It was developed by NWTC electromechanical instructors Joseph Barker, Edward Kralovec, Troy Giese and Jacob Morois.

Training units are designed to be used not only in the classroom but also in industry. The units can be moved easily from room to room, instantly transforming any space into a state-of-the-art training space. The modular components can be connected easily and quickly to expand skills training without requiring dedicated space and added facility expense.

The patent (No. 10,629,094) covers the modular training system, assembly and method of using the trainer. NWTC is one of a handful of two-year colleges nationwide to hold a patent.

Renowned futurist will deliver keynote at Manufacturing First

In today’s fast-changing world, trying to keep up with the latest information and trends can be a challenge. Daniel Burrus, a leading futurist on global trends and disruptive innovation, will share his thoughts on what’s coming next as the keynote speaker for the 10th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference.

The author of several books, including the bestselling “Flash Foresight” and his latest, “The Anticipatory Organization,” Burrus has delivered more than 3,000 keynote speeches worldwide and is a strategic adviser to Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Google and Procter & Gamble. When working with clients, he helps them to develop game-changing strategies based on his proven methodologies for capitalizing on technology, innovations and their future impact.

Burrus writes monthly columns focused on disruptive innovation, exponential change and the future for multiple publications, has been the featured subject of several PBS television stations and has appeared on major news channel programs.

Manufacturing First focuses on the latest trends in manufacturing, featuring speakers, special presentations, breakout sessions and more. For more information, visit manufacturingfirst.com.

NEWMA’s President’s Cup golf event rescheduled for August

The NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s President’s Cup Scholarship Golf Scramble has been rescheduled to take place Aug. 5 on the River Course at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.

The event pairs participating companies with a manufacturing president or executive in a four-person golf scramble. Confirmed participants for 2020 include Wilson Jones, president and CEO of Oshkosh Corp., and Jan Allman, CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

Last year’s event raised $39,000 for NEWMA’s scholarship fund, which was applied to the $50,000 the organization supported in scholarships in 2019.